A "Template" is a piece of html code that uses pre-set variables (provided by a specific module) to expose data to the site.

A "Theme" is a special template (or set of templates) that controls the style and graphics of a Xoops site, by taking the result of the first template (Data template), and sticking it where it's supposed to be according to the Theme. This means, again, that we have two templates: A Data Template, and a Theme Template.

The Data Template is never used directly, but rather always displayed with the help of a Theme Template.

This means that unless you are going to make changes in the way modules display their data in blocks, You will only want to play with the theme templates, and not with the data templates. I personally feel that Xoops 2.x could have used slightly friendlier names, to eliminate the confusion for potential theme developers.

A style sheet is just a text file with a special extension which is CSS. This extension tells the browser that this file contains rules on how items on the webpage should be displayed.

You can edit a style sheet several ways. If you know the syntax you could just open it in notepad and edit away.

There is software available that guides you the process, and also lets you see you changes as you make them. The best known CSS editor is TopStyle.

TopStyle has pro (paid) and a lite (free) versions. Information and price can be found Here.

Lots of other editors available also, just do a google search and find the one that is right for you.

Before installing the theme:

1- Rename the theme folder

2- Open theme.html file replace all instances of the old theme name with the new name. there will be about 5 depending on the layout.

Better still ... insert $xoops_theme instead of the theme name. This will reflect any changes you make to the theme name folder in the future without editing theme.html.

Unzip your downloaded theme. Upload it to the directory:
root/themes/

Go to your admin/system admin/preferences, now click 'general settings'.

Here you can set the setting of your:(8th row) Default theme: your theme of choice.

The Theme Library is the place where you can find many of the finest theme skins for your XOOPS powered website available for download.

The XOOPS Theme Library is, like all parts of XOOPS.org, a community effort. The purpose is simple: to make as many XOOPS themes available to the XOOPS user community.

Themes Library